The best buggies and lightweight strollers

We put the UK's best buggies through their paces and, after extensive testing, found that the Silver Cross Reflex offered the most value for families.

Buggies (also called lightweight strollers and pushchairs) are designed to be easy to transport and to store. Depending on the brand and price point, they range from simple folding pushchairs to sturdy strollers complete with rain covers, shopping baskets and sun canopies. There's plenty of choice available, so if you aren't sure where to start, take a look at the Mumsnet Buyer's Guide which covers everything you need to know about buggies.

Most strollers are smaller than travel systems and can fold easily in one piece. Unlike traditional prams or pushchairs they don't tend to have a seat which can lie completely flat which means they're not always suitable for newborns. Buggies may look a little less comfortable than travel systems or prams, but they can be a godsend in the toddler years. 

In our quest to find the ultimate lightweight buggy we spent three months of researching and testing the top products on the market. After weeks of wheeling, tipping and folding, we think that the Silver Cross Reflex will offer the best value for most parents.

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Best Buggy: Silver Cross Reflex, £200 from Amazon

It's got classic style, full suspension and a traditional umbrella fold that's quick to master. We loved the adjustable handlebars, ergonomic backrest and headhugger cushion for newborns, finding it to be the most comfortable ride for both parent and child.

The Silver Cross Reflex is suitable from birth to 25kg, and is travel system compatible, which means it has a much longer lifespan than most pushchairs. And although the initial outlay is slightly higher than some other pushchairs on the market, we think it's well worth the investment.

Pros

• Suitable from birth to 25kg
• Great storage
• Easy to fold and travel-friendly
• No problem with rough terrain and tricky curbs

Cons

• One of the more expensive models on the market
• Only compatible with Silver Cross car seats

Price: £200 from Amazon

Buy now

How we tested

We spent 20 hours researching bestsellers, speaking to parents and scouring Mumsnet talk forums to find out which products parents were using, and what they loved and hated about them. After this we narrowed the search down to 13 buggies that we felt truly reflected the best in the market.

Each of these strollers was pushed for a minimum of 80km across pavements, parks, fields and hills. We pushed each stroller to the limit, dropping, folding, spilling and cleaning each chair to really understand how they perform in real life.With all this in mind, we awarded the Silver Cross Reflex Mumsnet Best Lightweight Stroller 2018.

• Read more about how we test
• Read the full review of the Silver Cross Reflex on Mumsnet
• See more pushchairs suitable from birth

Best Easy Fold Buggy 2018: Baby Jogger City Tour, £189 from Amazon

If you'll be using public transport a lot, an easy fold is essential. Suitable from six months, the City Tour collapses at the push of a button, making it by far the easiest one-handed fold we tested.

Aside from its easy one-handed fold, the Baby Jogger City is a great all-rounder offered at a reasonable price. It’s a well-made stroller that’s clearly built to last. The frame might be lightweight but it's very sturdy. The child seat is comfortable and well padded, and one-handed steering makes it an easy ride for parents too.

• Easy one-handed fold
• Large storage basket (7kg weight capacity)
• Read the full review of the Baby Jogger City Tour on Mumsnet

Buy now

Best Budget Buggy 2018: Joie Nitro, £89.99 from Amazon

Weighing in at under 8kg and sporting a very reasonable price tag, the Joie Nitro packs an impressive punch. Full wheel suspension and adjustable calf support means that the Joie Nitro is a comfortable ride for growing toddlers.

This pushchair also boasts a full recline, easy fold and plenty of extras like a rain cover, and large shopping basket. Overall, we were impressed at how much the Joie Nitro offered for such a low cost.

• High functionality for a small price tag
• Easy umbrella fold
• Full wheel suspension
• Read the full review of the Joie Nitro on Mumsnet

Buy now

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Best Luxury Buggy 2018: Babyzen YOYO+, £369 from John Lewis

The ultra-compact and stylish YOYO+ is so small it can be checked in as hand luggage on flights. Whilst this pushchair is definitely on the higher end of the price range, if you're looking for something very compact and want to splash out, the Babyzen YOYO+ won't disappoint.

We like the five-point harness and easy reclining seat on this pushchair. It's car seat compatible and can be used from birth, so could be a good alternative to a travel system for parents looking for a compact travel solution right from the get go.

• Super lightweight (6.2 kg)
• Extremely compact fold
• One handed steering
• Read the full review of the Babyzen YOYO+ on Mumsnet

Buy now

Best Mid-Range Buggy 2018: UPPAbaby G-Luxe, £249.99 

The best buggy in the mid-range price bracket (£249.99 from Amazon) , the G-Luxe offers a great set of features at a very reasonable price. At just 6.1kg it's the lightest stroller we tested. We loved the freestanding fold, full wheel suspension and padded seat.

With all the extras, like a rain cover and sun hood included in the price, we thought it offered really great value for money.

• Hand-operated umbrella fold
• Freestanding when folded
• Super lightweight (6.7 kg)
• Read the full review of the Uppababy G-Luxe on Mumsnet 

Prices correct as of 24/08/18

Other things you might like:

Essential tips for new grandparents

10 best pushchairs for newborns

Images: Shutterstock